York College Alum Vica Mars, exceptional leader and Army Veteran, passed away at age 46

The York College Provost Derrick Brazill, interim President Claudia Schrader and the York College family mourn the passing of Erzulie (Vica) Mars. Vica, 46, is an alum of York College who gave tremendous service to York and her community. She was an incredible ambassador for the College.

A native of Queens, Vica graduated from York in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, then received her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College in 2017.  She served tirelessly under three presidential administrations at York and worked closely with numerous Student Affairs leaders, including Geneva Walker-Johnson and Vincent Banrey.  She collaborated with faculty and staff on numerous endeavors, ranging from Commencement Appeals and the provision of emergency funds for students, to the successful 2019 New York African Studies Association Conference, which York hosted in April of that year.

Prior to attending York, Vica served in the United States Army and rose to the rank of E-5 or sergeant.  During her six years in the military, Vica did at least two tours of duty in the Middle East. 

Throughout her years at York, Vica was a crucial, informal liaison between student veterans, faculty and the College’s Office of Veteran Affairs. Vica joined the Office of Academic Affairs in 2020 and provided institutional memory to new leadership in that unit and across campus.  She was instrumental in helping many administrative offices develop their assessment plans, creating digital Dean’s List certificates and promoting initiatives like the CircleIn peer-led learning platform.  No matter which office she worked in, Vica was a fierce advocate for students, even as she held them to high standards of academic achievement and personal comportment.

Vica was the beating heart of the Office of Academic Affairs.  She was the connective tissue between overlapping circles of friends and colleagues.  She was an avid storyteller who lit up every room she entered.  And she was so much fun to be around. She will be sorely missed.

A visitation for Vica will be held Thursday, September 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at R. Stutzmann & Son, 224 39 Jamaica Ave., Queens Village, NY.

A funeral mass will occur on Friday, September 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at Sts. Joachim & Ann R.C. Church, 21827 Hollis Ave., New York, NY 11429. A committal service will occur Friday, September 6, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Calverton National Cemetery, Wading River, Wading River, NY 11792.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/queens-village-ny/vica-mars-11971958